It’s 2 a.m. and you find yourself staring at the ceiling once again, thoughts swirling like a whirlwind through your mind. “I’ve got to remember to pull that chicken out of the freezer.” “Did I move the laundry from the washer into the dryer before bed?” “The kids have ball practice after school tomorrow, so I need to be sure to pack some snacks.” “The boss will be in the office tomorrow checking on the project progress…I better wear that new outfit so I look professional.” “Man! My hair is turning grey again, I better set another appointment for touch-up color!” “Phew, I’m so tired, why can’t I fall back to sleep?” “Sleep…counting sheep…one, two, three, four, five, six, seven….Seven! I have that meeting tomorrow night at seven. I better throw something in the slow cooker in the morning for dinner since there won’t be much time after ball practice!”….and so it continues…well, at least until about 30 minutes before you’re supposed to wake up, at which point you finally fall into that desired deep sleep. Only to be suddenly awakened all too quickly by that blaring alarm!
Have you ever had nights like that? Either you have trouble falling asleep, or at some point in the night you wake up and the brain kicks into overdrive, thoughts take over, and there’s no getting back to sleep, seemingly no matter how hard you try! It’s a frustrating feeling, and unfortunately one that if not addressed, can have serious impacts on your health.
I found myself facing nights like this way too often, and it was starting to become a problem. I couldn’t seem to get a good night’s sleep, and as a result I was tired during the day, dealing with brain fog, irritability, and reduced productivity. I knew this wasn’t good for me, but what could I do?
We all know how important sleep is for us. Doctors will tell you to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night…but for those of us balancing work, family, and activities, this seems like a hilarious number! How are we supposed to get 8 hours sleep when not only do we have too much on our plate for the hours in the day, but we find ourselves waking up in the wee hours of the morning, staring at the ceiling, our brains rapidly firing away, while we listen to the annoyingly peaceful breathing of our spouse slumbering deeply next to us?
But, believe it or not, it is possible and by following a few simple tips, you can kiss your insomnia good-bye for good! Here are a few top Insomnia Busting Secrets so you too can enjoy a deep, relaxing, and much-needed rest:
Turn off the technology.
Technology is wonderful. I love how much these various gadgets make life seem easier (or do they?…but that’s a topic for a different day). But despite all their wonderful uses, like entertaining us, staying connected with friends, organizing our days, and informing us of world events, the blue light radiating from our phones, computer screens, tablets, and televisions is interfering with natural triggers in our brain that it is time to sleep. Turn off the technology at least one hour before bed. Instead of that technology, take some much needed down time before turning out the lights by soaking in a relaxing bath. Better yet, add
Magnesium Dead Sea Salt – Lavender & Eucalyptus to the bath with botanical ingredients that encourage even deeper sleep.
Get Comfortable
Ok, I know that may seem obvious…but…if you’re not sleeping well, consider your sleeping environment and adjust if needed. Check the room temperature and adjust if possible. For most, a cooler bedroom temperature is more conducive to better sleep. Is your bed and/or pillow in need of some updating? What noise levels are you dealing with and do you need a fan or some other “white noise” to cover up background distractions? Take inventory on anything you may need to change in your sleeping environment to help with your comfort and consequently your sleep quality.
Nutrition
Yes, I know that you’ve probably heard this a million times but there’s a reason nutrition keeps coming up as a key element to solving so many of our problems. Our bodies need optimum nutrition to function properly and that includes rest and sleep. When it comes to sleep, here are a few things your body is begging you to consider:
- Cut the processed. Processed foods contain little to no nutritional value and also contain lots of sugar and/or salt. This adds stress on the body including stress on the adrenals, liver, and kidneys, key organs that when stressed, affect our sleep.
- Eliminate the Sugar. Sweets treats are great on the palate but they are generally digested quickly, causing a short-term boost of energy followed by a crash. Our bodies are thrown into that horrible cycle of highs and lows that will affect our natural ability to relax, particularly if consumed too close to bedtime.
- Add Magnesium. An estimated 55% of Americans are magnesium deficient. Magnesium aids in stress reduction and rest. We are huge believers in the benefits of supporting healthy magnesium levels in the body, which is why we offer so many wonderful products that include magnesium. One of my favorites is the apply Magnesium Lotion to my feet right before bed… or better yet, get my hubby to do it!
- Don’t eat before bed. During sleep, our bodies are working hard at cleansing, healing, and balancing. We were not designed to efficiently perform both digestion and cleansing at the same time. Some experts recommend not eating anything at least two hours before settling in for the night. If you tend to get those late night food cravings, go for herbal teas or fresh juiced veggies.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are basically the highly concentrated version of the natural oils or resins found in plants. We generally get the oils from the plants through a process called distillation, and the resulting product contains all the characteristic fragrance, the properties of the plant from which it was extracted, and the essence and intelligence of the plant, including its healing properties. Plants possess compounds that contribute to the health of the plant, reproduction, pollination, and protection. These same compounds contain vital living energy (”life energy”) that resonates at varying frequencies that interact at varying levels with the cells of our body.
We have had great success with adding essential oils to our bedtime routine. My daughter especially likes the oils and asks for them every night. We have a diffuser in her room and the master bedroom. Each night she will select the scent she wants for her sleep time that night. She especially loves
Monster Stay Away Spray, and we have fun making a show of “cleaning” her room each night before bed. Other great oils for sleep include
Lavender,
Peace, and
Sleep Herbal Blend.
Are you ready to kick insomnia to the curb for good? Try these tips and let us know how it goes. Get with your Jordan Essentials representative today to try our favorite Insomnia Busting products, because our mission at Jordan Essentials is to help you enjoy a good night’s sleep, and to have “Healthy Skin and a Healthy Life.”
